Who is in charge and of what? Allah (swt) has mentioned in the Quran that we are His vicegerent on earth and we are to work live and let live others, all according to the rule of Allah (swt) and the ways Prophet Muhammad(sm) has shown us by his Sunnah.
Islam as a religion is also a way of life and the ritual forms of worship are a part of religion; they are important part but still only a part. If our worship is not linked to our lives and to people’s suffering, then it is of no use. We have separated our worship from our daily, social, cultural, political and economic life.
In our country we have seen many indigenous people have suffered lose of property, life in hands of some blind (uneducated, ill-motivated) people. The drug problems among young generations, the increasing number acid burned victims (recently a mother was thrown acid just because she demanded justice for the rape of her 11 year old mentally challanged daughter), increasing suicide rate for dowry, sexual harassment in education institution& etc.
Now recently we are seeing Hindu-Christian clash in India with lose of life and property in minority side. But we as a Muslim have a major role to play in all this (though we have suffered the same fate in many countries as minorities). We are not spectators and we are not neutrals. We have to stop this. But we Muslims don’t bother at all.
In Quran Allah (swt) has strictly warned us for this kind of attitude:
Have you seen the one who denies the Day of Judgment?
He it is who drives away the orphan with harshness
and does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
So woe to those who offer Salah (prayers),
but are neglectful of their Salah (offer Prayers but disregard the very purpose of establishing Salah - to have the fear of Allah and be mindful to the needs of other people);
those who make a show of piety
and refuse to share the necessities of life.(107:1-7)
This Surah gives an interesting perception of Islam. From this it is evident that Islam has much to do other than worshipping One God. It is about making the connection between our worship and the suffering of others.
Prophet Muhammad (sm) said, "Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one." People asked, "O Allah's Apostle! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?" The Prophet said, "By preventing him from oppressing others." (Sahi Al Bhukhari)
It is a Jihad for Muslims to help the oppressed as Quran states:
O ye who believe! what is the matter with you then when ye are asked to go forth in the Cause of Allah ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life as compared with the hereafter (9:38)
And Prophet Muhammad (sm) said: "The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah's Cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day." (Sahi Al Bhukhari)
The Imams in the mosques, only condemns the youth who have taken drugs, or thrown the acid or demanded dowry but does not see the root cause of this problem. The Imams thinks that giving sermons in Friday prayer that these people will end up in hell would help. But how much and how many sermons will it take to change the course?
Many Muslims will say ‘what can we do other than pray’ or ‘let them fight it out among themselves’ or ‘why should we get involve in kafir matters’. Washing our hands of a social problem or simply ignoring it means that we are also a part of it.
Only praying to Allah (swt) will not work. We forget that Allah (swt) does not intervene in the affairs of people. Though He is All Powerful and capable to do anything by saying "Be"; and it is. (2:117). But Allah links His intervention to the intervention of people.
Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls). (13:11)
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Personal Significance of the month of Ramadan
O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint (2:183)
What is so significant about this month? Why can’t we be like this all the time. We humans are unable to hold on the same level of heightened Allah-consciousness throughout the year. If we are then Ramadan would no longer be Ramadan. If there is only one season like summer then it would be known as time only not as summer.
So by not asking why it cannot be summer all the time, we rather think what we need to do in summer and prepare for winter. The month of Ramadan is where we return to our workshop to repair our soul beaten by passion, lust & worldly desire. And prepare for the next lap to behave, deal with our self, with nature and with other human beings.
Ramadan is a month of heightened awareness of Allah. during this month self-restraint from food , drink, sexual activity from dawn to sunset and increased spiritual devotions are an fundamental part of this struggle. However there is more to Ramadan than the burdens of the flesh. Prophet Muhammad (sm) said :
The fasting is the protection or shield from the hell fire. So the person fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently and if somebody fights with him and abuses him he should say twice “I am fasting”. Prophet Muhammad (sm) added: by Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allah (swt) than the smell of musk. (Allah swt says about the fasting person), He has left his food, drink and desire for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward the fasting person for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times. (Sahih Al Bukhari Hadith no 118 vol 3)
Whoever does not give up lying speech-false statements, and acting on those (lies) and evil actions etc., then Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e Allah will not accept his fasting) (Sahih Al Bukhari Hadith no 127 vol 3)
During this month we learn discipline, patience, forbearance and sacrifice. It is about testing one’s faith in the real world and in the world of personal hurts and hopes, of laughter and tears and between justice and injustice.
Just a few days remaining for the Crescent of the Shawwal month to be sighted and preparation for the Eid ul Fitr is entirely under way. For many people the preparation for Eid started from the first day of Ramadan or from the midway. The strong spirituality of the month seems to fall down under the weight of all the preparations for the day of celebration. So what we have achieved in this month? What’s the point of fasting when we do not pray five times a day and not behave according to the hadiths mentioned above.
We need to make sure that the next Ramadan finds us in a better state, finds us a bit closer to Allah (swt) and somewhat more kind person than this Ramadan did.
Syed Hussein Nasr says: To have completed the fast of Ramadan is to have undergone a rejuvenation and rebirth which prepares each Muslims to face another year with determination to live according to the Divine will.
The end of Ramadan marks the start of our journey again. A journey in which we must be guided not by our compass but also by The Most Merciful, The Guide- Allah (swt).
When my servants ask thee concerning Me I am indeed close (to them); I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me; let them also with a will listen to My call and believe in Me; that they may walk in the right way. (2:186)
What is so significant about this month? Why can’t we be like this all the time. We humans are unable to hold on the same level of heightened Allah-consciousness throughout the year. If we are then Ramadan would no longer be Ramadan. If there is only one season like summer then it would be known as time only not as summer.
So by not asking why it cannot be summer all the time, we rather think what we need to do in summer and prepare for winter. The month of Ramadan is where we return to our workshop to repair our soul beaten by passion, lust & worldly desire. And prepare for the next lap to behave, deal with our self, with nature and with other human beings.
Ramadan is a month of heightened awareness of Allah. during this month self-restraint from food , drink, sexual activity from dawn to sunset and increased spiritual devotions are an fundamental part of this struggle. However there is more to Ramadan than the burdens of the flesh. Prophet Muhammad (sm) said :
The fasting is the protection or shield from the hell fire. So the person fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently and if somebody fights with him and abuses him he should say twice “I am fasting”. Prophet Muhammad (sm) added: by Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allah (swt) than the smell of musk. (Allah swt says about the fasting person), He has left his food, drink and desire for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward the fasting person for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times. (Sahih Al Bukhari Hadith no 118 vol 3)
Whoever does not give up lying speech-false statements, and acting on those (lies) and evil actions etc., then Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e Allah will not accept his fasting) (Sahih Al Bukhari Hadith no 127 vol 3)
During this month we learn discipline, patience, forbearance and sacrifice. It is about testing one’s faith in the real world and in the world of personal hurts and hopes, of laughter and tears and between justice and injustice.
Just a few days remaining for the Crescent of the Shawwal month to be sighted and preparation for the Eid ul Fitr is entirely under way. For many people the preparation for Eid started from the first day of Ramadan or from the midway. The strong spirituality of the month seems to fall down under the weight of all the preparations for the day of celebration. So what we have achieved in this month? What’s the point of fasting when we do not pray five times a day and not behave according to the hadiths mentioned above.
We need to make sure that the next Ramadan finds us in a better state, finds us a bit closer to Allah (swt) and somewhat more kind person than this Ramadan did.
Syed Hussein Nasr says: To have completed the fast of Ramadan is to have undergone a rejuvenation and rebirth which prepares each Muslims to face another year with determination to live according to the Divine will.
The end of Ramadan marks the start of our journey again. A journey in which we must be guided not by our compass but also by The Most Merciful, The Guide- Allah (swt).
When my servants ask thee concerning Me I am indeed close (to them); I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me; let them also with a will listen to My call and believe in Me; that they may walk in the right way. (2:186)
Sunday, September 14, 2008
QURAN ON HUMAN NATURE
According to teachings of Quran and many Hadiths we find that man has been constituted with two fundamental natures. First we are is His chosen creature, Vicegerent, Trustee, Slave and on the other hand he is a mischief maker, sheds bloods, ungrateful, unjust, disobedient etc.
“Behold thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth. ........" (2:30)
Man in Islamic perspective is at once the vicegerent, the khalifah of Allah(swt) on earth and His servant. As His servant man must be obedient to His will. As his Vicegerent, he must be active because he is Allah’s (swt) representative in this world. He is the bridge between heaven and earth, the instrument through which the Will of Allah is realized and crystallized in this world.
Humans are conceived in Islam not in his Titanic nature which rebels against the Will of Allah(swt). But we are level down as Servant of Allah (swt). Our dignity, grandness, splendor is not coming from us but from our position as Allah’s(swt) vicegerent. And that we are able to carry the Will of Allah in our live and in this world and act as a creature which reflects Allah’s (swt) Wisdom and Power in this world.
That is why humans are addressed in Quran has the Chosen creature of Allah (swt)
“But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him and gave him guidance. (20.122)”
“We have indeed created man in the best of molds” (95:4)
“Those who have faith and do righteous deeds they are the best of creatures.” (98:7)
“It is Allah Who hath created the heavens and the earth and sendeth down rain from the skies and with it bringeth out fruits wherewith to feed you; it is He Who hath made the ships subject to you that they may sail through the sea by His command; and the rivers (also) hath He made subject to you.” (14:32)
“And He hath made subject to you the sun and the moon both diligently pursuing their courses: and the Night and the Day hath He (also) made subject to you.” (14:33)
“And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favors of Allah never will ye be able to number them:...........”.(14:34)
It is He who hath created for you all things that are on earth.........(2:29)
We are chosen by Him in a sense that we reflects most directly the Divine Wisdom. We are the only central being in the world and that is why we are His vicegerent. We have the power to dominate all other creatures, but we also bears the responsibilities to care for all of them. As Prophet Muhammad (sm) said: “The world is beautiful and green, and Allah(swt) has made you governors over it to see how you will act.” (Muslim)
Islam sees us a being possessing intelligence and will. Allah(swt) gave us the intelligence to understand that the Allah (swt) is the Lord, He is One and to testify to His Unity. That is why in Quran, Allah(swt) addresses us before the creation of the world and asks us :
"Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?" They said: "Yea! we do testify!" (7:172)
And by this Yea we came into covenant with Allah (swt) and through which we accepts the Lordship of Allah(swt).
Till now have seen one side of coin. What about the second fundamental nature of man. Lets look what the Quran has to say:
..........They said "Wilt thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?........ (2:30)
..........verily man is given up to injustice and ingratitude. (14:34)
Most of them We found not true to their covenant: but most of them We found rebellious and disobedient. (7:102
Most ungrateful is man! (17:67)
............he was indeed unjust and foolish(33:72)
Truly man was created very impatient (70:19)
Fretful when evil touches him; (70:20)
And niggardly when good reaches him (70:21)
This is the color we human carry. At one side we see our self as the “.......best of creatures.” (98:7) and on the other side we are “.......lowest of the low” (95:5)
If we rebel against Allah (swt) and follow evil we will be degraded to the lowest possible position. and if we use our intelligence and follow Allah’s (swt) law we will reach the high and noble destiny intended for us.
We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains: but they refused to undertake it being afraid thereof: but man undertook it....... (33:72)
Now with this verse we see that we are the trustee of Allah(swt). The Giver of the trust has given us the trust and expects us to use it according to His (the creator of the trust) wish.
But the question is how could man despite so many inherent weakness, flaws in his nature accepts the Trust. The reason maybe is we are made of clay. ....... I am about to create man from clay (38:71) and clay has the capacity not only to keep intact, hide, sustain but also to grow, enlarge and reproduce. So this origin of man has made him special and gave him strength to bear the Trust. But Iblis (Satan), the Jinns could not do it cause they are not fit for it they are made from fire and fire goes up-wards (like proud ness) and fire burns everything.
Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: Yet most men understand not (40:57)
As a human we are all or nothing, we can choose between being all or nothing. We are none the less a creature of flesh and blood and we walk in this world and fall back in to it when we die. We can be higher than the angles, or lower than the animals.
In such a two-face situation Prophet Muhammad (sm) has shown us the most balanced way. To overcome from this situation we have to adopt his lifestyle (sunnah). To remind, we live in a time of ‘lifestyle choices’ but for us, right now, there is only one ‘lifestyle choice’, there is no alternatives and there is no contest at all beside the radiant humanity of Rasulullah (sm).
His lifestyle (sunnah) demanded living in this world, not running away from it. He prayed for long hours at night and fasted in rigorous ways but he did not allow his companions to follow it. He was detached and yet in this world. He was truly the Vicegerent: the one who speaks, acts, rules by and for Allah alone.
Living his lifestyle means imitating his inner and well as his outer perfection. It is an unique efficient vehicle for human improvement which embraces every aspect of man.
I conclude by saying Praise be to Allah Lord of all the worlds
“Behold thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth. ........" (2:30)
Man in Islamic perspective is at once the vicegerent, the khalifah of Allah(swt) on earth and His servant. As His servant man must be obedient to His will. As his Vicegerent, he must be active because he is Allah’s (swt) representative in this world. He is the bridge between heaven and earth, the instrument through which the Will of Allah is realized and crystallized in this world.
Humans are conceived in Islam not in his Titanic nature which rebels against the Will of Allah(swt). But we are level down as Servant of Allah (swt). Our dignity, grandness, splendor is not coming from us but from our position as Allah’s(swt) vicegerent. And that we are able to carry the Will of Allah in our live and in this world and act as a creature which reflects Allah’s (swt) Wisdom and Power in this world.
That is why humans are addressed in Quran has the Chosen creature of Allah (swt)
“But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him and gave him guidance. (20.122)”
“We have indeed created man in the best of molds” (95:4)
“Those who have faith and do righteous deeds they are the best of creatures.” (98:7)
“It is Allah Who hath created the heavens and the earth and sendeth down rain from the skies and with it bringeth out fruits wherewith to feed you; it is He Who hath made the ships subject to you that they may sail through the sea by His command; and the rivers (also) hath He made subject to you.” (14:32)
“And He hath made subject to you the sun and the moon both diligently pursuing their courses: and the Night and the Day hath He (also) made subject to you.” (14:33)
“And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favors of Allah never will ye be able to number them:...........”.(14:34)
It is He who hath created for you all things that are on earth.........(2:29)
We are chosen by Him in a sense that we reflects most directly the Divine Wisdom. We are the only central being in the world and that is why we are His vicegerent. We have the power to dominate all other creatures, but we also bears the responsibilities to care for all of them. As Prophet Muhammad (sm) said: “The world is beautiful and green, and Allah(swt) has made you governors over it to see how you will act.” (Muslim)
Islam sees us a being possessing intelligence and will. Allah(swt) gave us the intelligence to understand that the Allah (swt) is the Lord, He is One and to testify to His Unity. That is why in Quran, Allah(swt) addresses us before the creation of the world and asks us :
"Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?" They said: "Yea! we do testify!" (7:172)
And by this Yea we came into covenant with Allah (swt) and through which we accepts the Lordship of Allah(swt).
Till now have seen one side of coin. What about the second fundamental nature of man. Lets look what the Quran has to say:
..........They said "Wilt thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?........ (2:30)
..........verily man is given up to injustice and ingratitude. (14:34)
Most of them We found not true to their covenant: but most of them We found rebellious and disobedient. (7:102
Most ungrateful is man! (17:67)
............he was indeed unjust and foolish(33:72)
Truly man was created very impatient (70:19)
Fretful when evil touches him; (70:20)
And niggardly when good reaches him (70:21)
This is the color we human carry. At one side we see our self as the “.......best of creatures.” (98:7) and on the other side we are “.......lowest of the low” (95:5)
If we rebel against Allah (swt) and follow evil we will be degraded to the lowest possible position. and if we use our intelligence and follow Allah’s (swt) law we will reach the high and noble destiny intended for us.
We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains: but they refused to undertake it being afraid thereof: but man undertook it....... (33:72)
Now with this verse we see that we are the trustee of Allah(swt). The Giver of the trust has given us the trust and expects us to use it according to His (the creator of the trust) wish.
But the question is how could man despite so many inherent weakness, flaws in his nature accepts the Trust. The reason maybe is we are made of clay. ....... I am about to create man from clay (38:71) and clay has the capacity not only to keep intact, hide, sustain but also to grow, enlarge and reproduce. So this origin of man has made him special and gave him strength to bear the Trust. But Iblis (Satan), the Jinns could not do it cause they are not fit for it they are made from fire and fire goes up-wards (like proud ness) and fire burns everything.
Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: Yet most men understand not (40:57)
As a human we are all or nothing, we can choose between being all or nothing. We are none the less a creature of flesh and blood and we walk in this world and fall back in to it when we die. We can be higher than the angles, or lower than the animals.
In such a two-face situation Prophet Muhammad (sm) has shown us the most balanced way. To overcome from this situation we have to adopt his lifestyle (sunnah). To remind, we live in a time of ‘lifestyle choices’ but for us, right now, there is only one ‘lifestyle choice’, there is no alternatives and there is no contest at all beside the radiant humanity of Rasulullah (sm).
His lifestyle (sunnah) demanded living in this world, not running away from it. He prayed for long hours at night and fasted in rigorous ways but he did not allow his companions to follow it. He was detached and yet in this world. He was truly the Vicegerent: the one who speaks, acts, rules by and for Allah alone.
Living his lifestyle means imitating his inner and well as his outer perfection. It is an unique efficient vehicle for human improvement which embraces every aspect of man.
I conclude by saying Praise be to Allah Lord of all the worlds
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